USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Watertown > Historical sketches of Watertown, Massachusetts > Part 24
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After working one year under dispensation, in ac- cordance with Masonic custom, Pequossette Lodge was duly constituted, December 23, 1857, with im- pressive ceremonies, by Grand Master John T. Heard,
1 By Alberto F. Haynes.
WATERTOWN.
and at the close about sixty members and guests were provided with a "bountiful and luxurious " repast, as the records state, at the Spring Hotel, Samuel Batch- elder, mine host, being a member of the lodge.
The first death was that of Daniel Marshall, who was buried with Masonie honors, September 3, 1858. The first public installation was held December 29, 1858. October 14, 1864, the lodge attended the lay- ing of the corner-stone of the new Masonic Temple, Boston. December 23, 1804, a public installation was held in the town hall.
The first meeting in the new hall, Noyes' Block, was held September 8, 1870, and the hall was dedi- cated October 5, 1870, an address being delivered in the town hall by Wor. Bro. John B. Goodrich.
January 9, 1890, the lodge occupied, for the first time, its new and spacious rooms in the Otis building, of which it holds a ten years' lease. These quarters have been dedicated to Freemasonry, and were ar- ranged especially to meet the needs of Pequossette Lodge.
The total membership has exceeded 300. The present membership is abont 140. The largest num- ber of members admitted in one year was 24, in 1863. Of the early members, Robert L. Davis is now alone, out of 33 admitted to January, 1858; and of the 151 admitted during the first ten years, less than 30 re- main. Among those taking membership or degrees were Rev. Dr. Luther T. Townsend, of Watertown ; the late Rev. Bradford K. Peirce, of Newton, editor of Zion's Herald; James S. Allison, Jonas Chenery, of Belmont; George K. Snow, Joseph Crafts, George Sleeper, and a large number of the active business men and influential citizens of the town.
List of Past Masters: William Webster, 1858-59; Robert L. Davis, 1860-61, 1870-71; William J. Un- derwood, 1862; Thomas N. Hooper, 1863-64; Joseph Sanger, jr., 1865; John B. Goodrich, 1866; William H. Clark, 1867; Charles W. Stone, 1868-69; Charles T. Perkins, 1872; Charles Brigham, 1873-74; Samuel F. Stearns, 1875-76; Robert F. Horne, 1877-78; Charles H. Bradlee, 1879; Benjamin H. Dow, 1880- 81; Isaac Harrington, 1882-83 ; George H. Tarlton, 1884-85; George G. Davidson, 1886; Alberto F. Haynes, 1887-88.
The officers at present are as follows : Herbert H. Sawyer, W. M .; Frederick E. Critchett, S. W .; Ben- jamin W. Brown, J. W. ; Charles W, Stone, Treasurer ; George F. Robinson, Secretary; Rev. William H. Savage, Chaplain ; Robert L. Davis, Marshal ; Charles F. Bustin. S. D .; John M. Johnson, J. D .; James H. Fraser, I. S .; Freeman H. Edgcomb, Tyler. The Treasurer has held the office for twenty years, and the Tyler for twenty-five years.
While Pequossette Lodge has been established only thirty-three years, it is older than any other secret society of this town, although at present there are a dozen or more of these, founded mainly as in- surance organizations. The Masonic Lodge has held
a steady, even tenor, and is to-day better situated and enjoying a greater degree of prosperity than ever be- fore. Its record is naturally of an individualized character, representing the social and fraternal phase of men who have left, or are making, their imprint on our growing community. Its regular meeting is held the second Thursday in each month, and there are Saturday evening gatherings of a distinctively social nature in the lodge apartments.
ODD-FELLOWS.1-Lafayette Lodge, No. 31, Inde- pendent Order of Odd-Fellows, was instituted and charter granted the 26th of January, 1844. The lodge prospered until 1850, and in 1852 the charter was surrendered. Nothing was done until April 1, 1863, when the charter was returned and the lodge rein- stated, since which time it has continually prospered, and has met with considerable success, the member- ship now being 138. There have been and are now enrolled upon the books the names of men who have been prominent and closely connected with Water- town. It has initiated over 400 men into its ranks, and has the honor of being the mother of three lodges. Of its work little can be said, as the order of Odd-Fellows is a secret organization. But suffice it to say that in all its history there has never been a brother injured or harmed by it, but, on the contrary, many have been benefited by it, and that must mean that it has helped to make better men, better citizens and a better town. Upon the roll-books are the names of Thomas L. French, just deceased, and William H. Ingraham, who have the honor of being members for over forty years, a record which all Odd- Fellows feel proud of. The objects of the order are clearly defined and embodied in these few words, viz .: To visit the sick, to relieve the distressed, to bury the dead and to educate the orphan. This, so far as he can, every Odd-Fellow tries to perform. Officers for 1890 : H. H. Powell, N. G .; J. W. New- comb, Per. Sec.
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.2 -- The Young Men's Christian Association of Water- town was organized in March, 1887, having for its object the promotion of the spiritual, social, intellec- tual and physical welfare of young men.
Rooms were secured in W. H. Lyman's new block, then in process of erection, and a lease taken for three years.
The rooms were opened, in a fitting manner, on Sep- tember 3d, of the same year, with a consecration ser- vice in the morning, after which they were open to inspection of the public. At 12 M. an address was delivered in the Town Hall by Rev. L. W. Munhall, D.D., and a reception to the public in the evening, when refreshments were served to 800 people.
Mr. George S. Turner was elected the first presi- dent of the association, and served three years. Fred. G. Barker was elected in 1890. The president has been
1 By Charles H. Rollins.
ยช By James E. Norcross.
*
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEA COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ably supported by an earnest corps of young men, and the Association has prospered, and been the means, by the blessing of (fod, of doing much good for the young men of the town.
Mr. II. L. Peabody, of Haverhill, Mass., was the first general secretary, and since January 20, 1890, Mr. J. E. Norcross, of Watertown, has been the gen- eral secretary. The Executive Committee, alive to the needs of the young men, rented new quarters in the Otis Block and moved into them July 1, 1890.
The unceasing demands of the Association were thus met for a time and great encouragement given to prosecute the work.
The four rooms thus secured are a reading-room, where may be found a choice collection of reading matter, open to young men from 9.30 A.M. to 9.30 P.M .; a lecture room, with an office for the General Secretary, in which are held the various services of the Association, also lectures and practical talks; a small room to be used as a study and library ; and a room to be devoted to boys' work.
The Association has a flourishing Ladies' Anxil- iary connected with it, under the leadership of its president, Mrs. Alfred Turner; also an orchestra, which contributes a great deal to the attractiveness of the Association's services and socials.
The finances have been ably managed, and the close of each year has found a balance in the hands of the treasurer.
The membership of the Association is, October, 1890, 250; and the officers at present are as follows : President, Fred. G. Barker; Vice-Presidents, F. G. Barker, H. S. Wood, T. G. Banks; Rec. Secretary, B. M. Shaw ; Cor. Secretary, W. L. Rockwell; Treas- urer, S. Henry Coombs; Gen'l Secretary, Jas. E. Norcross.
" THE SOCIETY FOR THE RELIEF OF THE SICK " was organized in the year 1816, during the pastorate of the Rev. Richard Rosewell Eliot, when all the towns-people worshipped in one meeting-house. A severe epidemic had visited the town, after which it was thought wise to have articles on hand for loaning in cases of sickness and also to have a fund which could be drawn upon in cases of need. For those days this was a new departure, and deserves the merit of originality. The following was its first appeal : " Donations in money, old garments, bedding, articles suitable to be made up for children, nourishment for the sick, and fuel, will be gratefully received by the directors and appropriated according to their best judgment." Its officers for the years 1816-1817 were : Mrs. Eliakim Morse, president ; Miss Caroline How- ard, vice-president; Miss Martha Robbins, secretary ; Mrs. N. Bemis, jr., treasurer.
Its directors were : Mrs. R. R. Eliot, Mrs. Luke Bemis, Mrs. Isaac Dana, Mrs. Stearns, Mrs. A. Blake, Mrs. Jonathan Stone, jr., Mrs. Robbins, Mrs. Abijah White, Mrs. Gay, Mrs. Bigelow, Miss Katherine Hunt, Miss H. L. Coolidge.
One hundred and six of the principal ladies in town became members of the society, each paying the annual fee of one dollar.
During the years that have passed since, many have made substantial gifts to the society, and some of the older inhabitants at their deaths have left small lega- cies to be added to its funds. Among these gifts we may mention that of Lydia Maria Child, which is a pleasant reminder of her tender memory for the peo- ple among whom she passed a portion of her eartier life with her brother, Dr. Francis.
Thus this society has grown steadily, down to the present time, doing its work quietly, but efficiently. It assists all deserving poor, irrespective of creed or race, and loans its articles of use for the sick to any who wish them.
Its meetings are monthly, in the afternoon, at the houses of its members. Donations of any amount are always welcomed and will be well applied.
Its present officers are: Ruth A. Bradford, presi- (lent ; Emily Robbins, vice-president ; Margaret V. Kendall, secretary ; Abby V. Barry, treasurer.
THE WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION OF WATERTOWN was the result of prayer and an earnest awakening on the part of Christian women to the sin of the drink habit, and its terrible effects upon the individual and the home.
This Union was organized in 1875, very soon after the organization of the National Union.
The first general officers were Mrs. D. A. Tainter, Mrs. Abbott, wife of Rev. Granville Abbott, who was then pastor of the Baptist Church, Mrs. Joseph Bark- er, and Mrs. John Hall.
The first year's membership was ninety-nine. The first work was to help the Reform Club, visit the sa- loon-keepers, and assist the family of the inebriate.
Very soon it was found that preventive work must be done, and efforts were directed towards the forma- tion of a better public sentiment in regard to the social and medicinal use of alcoholic liquors, and con- eerning the traffic which makes the inebriate.
With this end in view the Union has given great prominence to the distribution of literature showing the effects of alcoholic poisons upon the system, the extent of the drink traffic, and the iniquitous power of the saloon. Many petitions have been circulated, and able speakers have been seenred from time to time to present varions phases of the Temperance question.
The Union is gratified in having been an instru- ment in removing wine from the Communion Table of the Methodist, the Congregational and the Baptist Churches ; in obtaining hundreds of signatures to the pledge, and the introduction of Scientific Temperance Instruction in the Public Schools. By persistent ef- fort of the Union, Watertown was one of the first six towns of the State to place in the hands of the pupils of the Public Schools text-books giving such instruc- tion.
4
417
WATERTOWN.
Among other departments of their work which have received attention from the Union, are Sabbath Ob- servance, Evangelistic work, Police Station and the Almshouse Franchise and Flower Missions.
The present membership is seventy-seven, with four- teen honorary male members.
List of officers : President, Mrs. S. Elizabeth Chase ; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Arminda S. Hall, Mrs. Persis H.Tainter, Mrs. Sarah J. Stone, Mrs. Lizzie G. Dimick, Mrs. Helen Greene, Mrs. Mary F. Rand, Mrs. Flor- ence Dutton, Mrs. Sarah H. Berry, Mrs. Eliza M. Teele, Mrs. Alice A. C. Phipps ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Frances D. Niles ; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Sarah H. Carter; Treasurer, Mrs. Angeline C. Craw- ford.
THE YOUNG MEN'S ASSEMBLY .- Several gentlemen called an informal meeting in May, 1888, in the hall of the Grand Army, to consider the formation of a society which should have for its object the busi- ness and social upbuilding of the town. The invita- tions to this meeting were given by L. S. Cleveland and Chester Sprague, seconded by the young men who belonged to a Bible class in the Methodist Epis- copal Sunday-school, and others to whom they made known their object. The first suggestions of such an organization were perhaps made to this class, known as the Young Men's Assembly of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which Mr. Cleveland was president. Each member of the class heartily endorsed the pro- posed plan of enlarged action and agreed to support it earnestly. The plan had also been discussed with others and approved by Samuel S. Gleason, Benj. H. Dow, Chester Sprague, George E. Priest, and Rev. W. G. Richardson, who kindly lent their aid and influence.
By the personal efforts of these and others spoken to, the informal meeting in May proved to be a suc- cess, and the organization since known as the Young Men's Assembly was formed with a membership, the first evening, of forty. The first regular meeting was held in June, with a membership limited to sixty. This limit has been raised at successive periods till now it stands at one hundred and seventy five, with a list of names waiting to be added when there are va- cancies. Included in the scope and work of this as- sembly is the creation of a Board of Trade, now con- sisting of George E. Priest, Samuel S. Gleason, Ward M. Otis, George C. Lunt aud Chester Sprague. This organization has been recognized by the business as- sociations of the State and delegates chosen to repre- sent the same in the State Convention of the Boards of Trade.
This assembly has awakened interest in other towns, for, after visiting this, gentlemen of other towns have formed similar organizations. It was originally proposed to encourage the introduction of matters of business in which any were interested, which seemed important to themselves or to others, or to make suggestions that might prove of value to others, especially to the town. It adopted
an idea embodied in the Chase Banquet Association, which had proved eminently successful-" the better- ment of its members," from a business standpoint as well as an educational one. Its object is social and business improvement. Its meetings have been held one evening of each month; they begin with a sim- ple banquet, and an hour spent in social converse, followed by addresses by members or invited guests. So far the spirit most actively developed has been to encourage all kinds of mutual helpfulness both in personal and municipal affairs. It may be too soon to say that the spirit of self-seeking and mutual fault- finding has disappeared from the town, and a habit of self-denying helpfulness of others has taken its place; but your historian should simply acknowledge that this is true of the leader of this assembly, L. S. Cleveland, now re-elected its president for the third year, by a unanimous and most persistent vote.
The officers for 1890-91 are the same as from the first : L. S. Cleveland, president ; S. S. Gleason and Chester Sprague, vice-presidente; F. W. Cobb, secre- tary and treasurer.
MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES .-- Among the other so- cieties organized in town are the following:
Young Men's Catholic Association, organized in 1889. -Michael J. Green, president; James J. McCafferty, secretary.
Isaac B. Patten Post, 81, Grand Army of the Re- public .- J. R. Harrison, commander ; George F. Rob- inson, adjutant.
Isaac B. Patten Women's Relief Corps, 59 .- Mrs. A. M. Condon, president ; Miss Edith M. Smith, secre- tary.
Arthur B. Fuller Camp, 102, Sons of Veterans .- Established in 1889. A. F. Nutting, captain ; G. Westley Priest, first sergeant. .
Abraham Lincoln Commandery, 67, United Order of the Golden Cross .- Instituted in 1879. J. H. L. Coon, N. C .; A. J. Coolidge, K. of R.
Charles River Court, Mass., Catholic Order of For- esters, 1883 .- James J. Barnes, C. R .; John Hurlihey, secretary.
Local Branch, 393, Order Iron Hall, 1886 .- E. F. Pratt, C. J. ; George S. Parker, accountant.
Franklin Association, 19, Northern Mutual Relief As- sociation .- Freeman H. Edgecomb, president; W. H. Pevear, secretary.
Watertown Lodge, 70, Ancient Order United Work- men, 1889 .- Thomas Perkins, master workman ; Ap- pleton Phipps, recorder.
British America Association, 65, 1889 .- J. H. Looker, president ; G. S. Thomson, secretary.
Watertown Mutual Relief Association, 1880 .- M. M. Walsh, president; M. P. Hynes, secretary.
Watertown Non-Partisan Woman's Suffrage League, 1887 .- Dr. S. Adelaide Hall, president; Mrs. Alice A. C. Phipps, secretary and treasurer.
Unitarian Club .- Organized in 1888. Julian A. Mead, president; J. C. Brimblecon, secretary.
27-iii
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. MASSACHUSETTS.
Wednesday Club .- Started in 1885 by Arthur M. town Pequossette, beginning with the number for July Knapp, its first president. Wm. Cushing, president ; 18, 1879. Ellen M. Crafts, secretary.
1 The town's earliest extant record-book of births,
Historical Society of Watertown, established in 1888. marriages and deaths appears from its title page to Alfred Hosmer, M.D., president ; Rev. E. A. Rand, have been opened in 1648, although it has had tran- vice-president; Solon F. Whitney, secretary and treasurer. It has at present fifty-two members. scribed into it some records of an earlier date. These latter are also upon the Suffolk County Records and Charles River Council, 36, A. L. of H., 1879 .- Com., Henry Stephens; Secretary, Wm. J. Quincy. have been printed in the sixth and seventh volumes of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Board of Trade, 1889 .- S. S. Gleason, George C. In preparing his History of Watertown, Dr. Bond Lunt, W. M. Otis, George E. Priest, Chester Sprague. had faithful copies of all these earlier town records Ladies' Benevolent Association, connected with the First Parish. Miss Emily Robbins, president ; Mrs. J. F. Green, secretary. taken, which since his death have been deposited with the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston. The Society also have his own personal St. Luke's Home for Children .- Arlington and Mt. Auburn Streets. Sisters Annie and Mary in charge. copy of his history, with bis collection of errata and addenda thereto, which would make another volume nearly half as large as the published history.
Town Improrement Society, 1883 .- Ward M. Otis, president ; Wm. H. Ingraham, clerk.
The records of the Watertown church, organized SOURCES OF INFORMATION CONCERNING THE OLD July 28, 1630, and next to that of Salem, the oldest TOWN OF WATERTOWN, MASS.1-I have endeavored in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, are not at pres- ent known to be extant prior to those of 1686-92, which were kept by the Rev. John Bailey.
to collect into the following list the more important sources of information which could be profitably ex- amined by the Historical Society of Watertown, in The files of the Suffolk and Middlesex Court, as its study into the history of that ancient township. well as those of Probate and Registry of Deeds, con- As a matter of convenience they have been grouped tain a mass of depositions often containing matter of somewhat chronologically, and after the dates of great historical interest. The original volumes of separation, under the headings of Watertown, Walt- ham and Weston.
The six 4to vols. of The Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New Rev. C. Mather's Magnalia, published in 1702, con. England, from 1628-86, published by the State in I tains many biographies and notes of interest to Wa- 1853-54, contain much material of the greatest im- ; tertown, as also Governor John Winthrop's Journal, portance. The Massachusetts State Archives on file or History of New England, 1630-49.
in the office of the Secretary of State at the State House, contain a mass of original papers, the most of : and Proceedings. which have never been printed. Here in vol. V, p. 32 of Maps and Plans, is the oldest ? known map of the town. This bears the date of 1720, when the town still included Waltham. It shows the location of all the houses of that time, and gives the names of the occupants of some of them. A commission, made an extended report in print to the State in IS85, upon the nature and present condition of these ar- chives.
The orginal records of John Hull, treasurer of the Colony, 1675-80, are in the possession of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Watertown town records, the earliest extant, begin on page 2 of the record-book, with the date of 1634. From Nov. 28, 1643, to Nov. 9, 1647, the transactions of the town are lost. A faithful transcript of the earlier records of the town were made by Mr. Joseph Crafts. A copy of the records down to 1651, was printed in the Water-
The American Antiquarian Society Collection.
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register and Memorial Biographies.
Magazine of American History-valuable articles.
Eliot's, Allen's and Drake's Biographical Diction- aries.
Thatcher's Medical Biography.
New England Prospects, by W. Wood, published London, 1634.
History of New England, 1628-52, by Ed. Johnson, London, 1654.
Letters from New England, by John Dunton.
Churches of New England, in the American Quar- terly Register, Vol. XI.
Prince Society publications.
Hutchinson's, Barry's and Palfrey's Histories of Massachusetts and of New England.
Hubbard, W .: History of New England to 1680.
Drake, S. G .: Five Years' French and Indian War in New England.
Alex. Young's Chronicles of the First Planters of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, 1623-36; also for reference his Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers of the Colony of Plymouth.
1 By Dr. Bennett F. Davenport, with additions by the editor.
" There is an older map of a small portion, the southwest corner, "called Nonesuch," which fixes two of the three main lines of the old town, in position and direction, and is ip vol. 3, p. 1.
This bears date Sept. 26, 1687, when Weston was still a part of the town, and Wellesley was a part of Dedham.
Records of U. S. District Tax of 1798, which are in the library of the N. E. Historical Society, give all taxable polls.
The Massachusetts Historical Society's Collections
419
WATERTOWN.
Force's Tracts.
Narrative and Critical History of America, edited by Justin Winsor.
WATERTOWN.
President Sam. Landon's Election Sermon before Congress, in Watertown, with Historical Notes, pub- lished in 1775.
Dr. C. Francis, Historical Sketch, delivered on the second Centennial Anniversary of the town, 1830.
Dr. C. Francis, three Historical Sermons upon leaving the old and dedication of the new church, 1836.
Barber's Massachusetts Historical Collection, 1840. Bond's Genealogies and History, 2d ed., 1860.
Rev. A. B. Fuller's Records of First Parish, 1861.
Harris's Epitaphs from the Old Burying-Ground in Watertown, 1869.
Drake's Middlesex County, 1880.
250th Anniversary of First Parish, with address by A. M. Knapp, 1881.
Tea Leaves. With Introduction by Francis S. Drake, Boston, 1884.
The Cambridge of 1776, with the Diary of Dorothy Dudley. Edited for the Ladies' Centennial Commit- tee, by A[rthur] G[ilman].
WALTHAM.
Topographical and Historical Description, by Rev. Sam. Ripley. Massachusetts Historical Society Col- lection, 1815.
Churches of America, Quarterly Register, 1839. Barber's Historical Collection, 1840.
Epitaphs, by J. B. Bright, in N. E. Historical aud Genealogical Register, 1865-66.
July 4th Historical Address, by Josiah Rutter, 1877.
Waltham, its past and present; and its industries. With a historical sketch of Watertown. By Charles A. Nelson, 1879.
In Drake's Middlesex County History, by A. Star- buck, 1880.
Waltham City, by Eph. L. Barry, 1857.
Historical Notes in Waltham Free Press, [by Fran- cis Leathe, of N. Y.] in 187 -.
WESTON.
1st Centennial Anniversary Sermon, by Rev. Sam. Kendall, 1813.
Churches of America, Quarterly Register, Vol. XI., 1839.
Petition of 1735, to Legislature, to join with neigh- boring part of Concord and Lexington to form New- ton, N. E. Historical and Genealogical Register, 1858. Barber's Historical Collection, 1840.
50th Anniversary of Settlement of Rev. Jas. Field, with Historic Address, by Rev. E. H. Sears, 1865.
July 4th Oration, by Charles H. Fiske, 1876.
In Drake's Middlesex County History, by C. A. Nelson, 1880.
Norumbega, by J. Winsor, in Massachusetts His- torical Proceedings, No. 22.
Norumbega, by A. B. Berry, in Magazine of Ameri- can History, Vol. XVI.
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